Directories

Russ grew up in Ridgefield New Jersey, a small suburb of New York City.  He graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia with a degree in Mathematics.  After college he set off to Akron Ohio to work for power generation manufacturer Babcock & Wilcox and began his career in Information Systems and Technology.  There he met his wife Marie where they were happily married in 1976 and fortunately remain that way today.  They moved to New Jersey in the early 80’s and he continued his career in Information Systems Management & Strategy at Johnson & Johnson until retirement in 2004.  Some of his primary responsibilities were the development and implementation of global strategies in Executive Information Systems, Supply Chain Management, and Quality and Compliance. They moved to their new hometown The Villages in 2004.  Along with fun and friendships, Russ firmly believes retirement is an opportune time to give back service to the community and he began by becoming a VHA Neighborhood Representative.  From 2007 through 2010 he was Chairperson of VHA Regions 6 & 7, developing and leading an excellent team of representatives delivering the VHA Mission to their neighborhoods.  He then was elected and served on the Villages CDD #6 Board of Supervisors from 2010 through 2014. In 2012, Russ was elected to the Board of the Directors for the Central Florida Health Alliance including The Villages Regional Hospital and Leesburg Regional Medical Center.  In this role, he is part of a leadership team dedicated to providing high quality, patient-centered care in a compassionate environment to The Villages, Leesburg and surrounding communities in Central Florida.  He now chairs the Quality/Safety/Service committee for the Hospital System and is also a member of the Strategic Planning Committees. Russ and Marie have two grown children Tony in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife Sharon and daughter Andrea in Hoboken New Jersey.  They are now enjoying the grand parenting experience with granddaughters Abby and Cassie.  Life is a blessing – Be thankful for every day and live it to its fullest.

Beth was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but grew up in a small town south of St. Louis.  She graduated from William Woods University with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and later graduated from Webster University with a master’s degree in Management.  Being a military wife, Beth has had many wonderful work experiences over the years in retail, health care, law and education.

Beth and her husband Dave moved to The Villages in April 2018 from Southern Illinois where her husband retired after 22 years in the USAF.  They always knew they would retire to Florida, but not sure where.  After being here for a little over 3 years, they cannot imagine living anywhere else.  Beth’s desire upon moving to The Villages was to become involved in clubs and organizations that were both fun and meaningful to her.  She and her husband are also very active volunteers with American Legion Post 347, Lady Lake.

In Beth’s spare time, she enjoys dancing, playing pickleball, treasure hunting for bargains and exploring new places in Florida.
Beth and Dave have a blended family of five children and six grandchildren whom are sprinkled all across the United States.

“Team Work:  Coming together is the beginning, Keeping together is progress and Working together is success” this is what being a part of the VHA is about for me.

Jan Palmer moved to The Villages in 2017 from the Detroit, Michigan area suburb of Macomb. She hails from Western New York, but has lived in Massachusetts and Michigan as GM moved her husband around. She and Mark have five children, five grandchildren, three dogs, and she considers being a lifelong volunteer and stay-at-home mom as her primary career choice.  On the side she has worked at Kodak, Clarkson University, and Oswego Hospital as a secretary, was a feature writer for The Pepperell Times Free Press in Massachusetts, Young Mother of the Year for Massachusetts, a tour escort for Alcott Tours accompanying seniors and students on bus tours, was the office and editorial assistant for Travelhost Magazine of Buffalo/Niagara Falls region, and enjoyed many years as an activities director in Buffalo and Michigan for assisted living residents. She has written for and edited several newsletters, has been the drama director/writer and women’s ministries coordinator at her churches in two states, and a choir member/soloist and Bible study teacher/facilitator for 40 years plus.  Since arriving in The Villages she has found many opportunities to do what she enjoys;  serving with The VHA and exploring the nuts and bolts of The Villages, being involved with Special Friends activities, bowling, exercising regularly at Bone Builders, participating in Senior Olympics, joining the Writers 4 Kids group and the Writer’s League of the Villages, decorating, gardening, playing cards, entertaining guests, and getting to meet new friends and neighbors.  Her goal as assistant editor for The Voice is to produce an interesting and informative product for VHA members and promote the positive work they do on behalf of all Villages residents. 

There are many autobiographies that are long and frankly boring. I intend to take the long part of that equation out of play. I was born and raised in northern Maine near the City of Caribou. As with all fortunate young people, I attended local schools. My parents were successful farmers and community leaders. Those attributes were passed down.

After attending New England College in Henniker, NH it became necessary for me to attend basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. I spent my required six years in the NH National Guard. New Hampshire seemed a wonderful place to live and raise a family. We lived in Contoocook Village, part of the Town of Hopkinton, for 47 years. While in Hopkinton I was fortunate to be appointed to many boards and elected to others. During those years, we also cleared land and created a certified organic blueberry farm. That endeavor was one of the most satisfying. Having your hands in clean living soil is good for the soul.

Victoria and I live in the Village of Pine Hills where we are fortunate to enjoy the many available benefits of living in The Villages. Here we continue to Live the Dream.

Moving to The Villages in August of 2012 was a decision made after a number of visits, the recommendation of a high school friend and the realization that there is no other place that compares.  He and his wife Peggy love the lifestyle, enjoy the many activities and have loved the warm and welcoming attitude of their neighbors in Mission Hills.  Fred and Peggy have 5 Children, 8 Grandchildren, and one Great Grandson.  Fred loves playing golf and Peggy plays Mah Jongg and works hard on Family Genealogy while enjoying the many other opportunities the Villages’ lifestyle provides.   Fred’s working career began with 20 years of service in the United States Navy Submarine Force.  His many assignments ranged from duty on a WWII Diesel Boat to Nuclear Training and assignment to Nuclear Submarines and concluded after assignment to the Submarine Force Commanders Staff as the Force Quality Assurance Officer and SSBN Overhaul Officer Managing Complex Submarine Overhauls.  Following his Naval service, he was recruited by Essex Corporation to manage their efforts in doing Logistics Support Analysis for the Trident Submarine in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  After 10 years with Essex, he went into the Real Estate industry and became the Broker of Record for the Prudential Thompson Wood Real Estate Company in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania until his retirement after 21 years in September of 2011.  He is a Life Member and Holland Club Member of the Submarine Veterans Association and a member of the local Seadragon Base, a Life Member of the Navy League, and a member of the American Legion.  He previously served as the President of his local Homeowners Association in Pennsylvania,  is a Past President of the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors and was a member of “Jake’s Team” which raises funds for Cancer Research at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Fred’s involvement in the VHA is driven by the desire to see “The Villages” concept continuing for the foreseeable future.  We’ve been provided with the premier retirement community in the country and it is and will be our responsibility to maintain and nurture the opportunity we’ve been given to maintaining it.

Russ grew up in Ridgefield New Jersey, a small suburb of New York City.  He graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia with a degree in Mathematics.  After college he set off to Akron Ohio to work for power generation manufacturer Babcock & Wilcox and began his career in Information Systems and Technology.  There he met his wife Marie where they were happily married in 1976 and fortunately remain that way today.  They moved to New Jersey in the early 80’s and he continued his career in Information Systems Management & Strategy at Johnson & Johnson until retirement in 2004.  Some of his primary responsibilities were the development and implementation of global strategies in Executive Information Systems, Supply Chain Management, and Quality and Compliance. They moved to their new hometown The Villages in 2004.  Along with fun and friendships, Russ firmly believes retirement is an opportune time to give back service to the community and he began by becoming a VHA Neighborhood Representative.  From 2007 through 2010 he was Chairperson of VHA Regions 6 & 7, developing and leading an excellent team of representatives delivering the VHA Mission to their neighborhoods.  He then was elected and served on the Villages CDD #6 Board of Supervisors from 2010 through 2014. In 2012, Russ was elected to the Board of the Directors for the Central Florida Health Alliance including The Villages Regional Hospital and Leesburg Regional Medical Center.  In this role, he is part of a leadership team dedicated to providing high quality, patient-centered care in a compassionate environment to The Villages, Leesburg and surrounding communities in Central Florida.  He now chairs the Quality/Safety/Service committee for the Hospital System and is also a member of the Strategic Planning Committees. Russ and Marie have two grown children Tony in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife Sharon and daughter Andrea in Hoboken New Jersey.  They are now enjoying the grand parenting experience with granddaughters Abby and Cassie.  Life is a blessing – Be thankful for every day and live it to its fullest.

Born and raised in Monmouth County, New Jersey.  Served 6 years in the U.S. Navy, 2 years of which in the Reactor Division of a Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine.  New Jersey Institute of Technology, B.S. – Industrial Engineering-cum laude-Tau Beta Pi.  Career in New Jersey, the Nuclear Power Department of Public Service Electric & Gas.  Then 5 years of executive management consulting in the nuclear industry.  Retired to The Villages in 2006, elected that year as Supervisor, CDD-6.  Chair the Project Wide Advisory Committee since its inception.

Walter Martin graduated from college in Dayton, OH and then left and began an unheard of 41 year career with GMAC Insurance division General Motors.  He held many supervisory/managerial positions in claims administration, and the audit and the sales staffs.  He lived in Pittsburg and had transfers/promotions to Chicago, St. Louis, Los Angeles, New York City, Detroit (executive office) and San Antonio, TX.  He retired in 2004 and moved to The Villages. He is married to Janice Perrin Martin of Middletown, OH and they celebrated 49 years of marriage in December of 2013.   They share the same interests in just about everything and his wife is his biggest fan.  They have two daughters (one married and one single) who were born in Pittsburgh and both now reside in California. He learned of the Villages in 1991 long before he was eligible to retire.  When the time came the decision of whether to remain in TX or move to The Villages was easy (even though San Antonio was very attractive for retirement) because he was accustomed to relocating and felt it was time for another move – this time to a beautiful active senior retirement community.  He presently serves on the Board of Supervisors for CCD #5 (Vice Chairman), attends the annual Florida Association of Special Districts conference; is VHA representative for District 5, Ashland; is a past member of Vestry Board at St. George Episcopal Church and serves on the Lay Eucharistic Minister staff; is an instructor for the AARP Driver Safety Program; is a Client Facilitator for the AARP Tax Aide Program; is President of the Polo Booster Club; is a past president of the African American Club; is a past President of the 3C’s Ohio Club; a member of the Villages Croquet Club and have attended the United States Croquet Association school in West Palm Beach.   He is also a regular tap dancer in the Rhythm Boys dance group in the Way, Way, Way, Off-Broadway Players theatre group and has had speaking parts in every production.  He is a member of Villages Theatre Company and had a role in the Trip to Bountiful production and the Squabbles production.  He also plays golf and an occasional game of billiards and enjoys jazz.  He is also a member of the Jazz Lovers Club. In addition to his busy life, they enjoy vacations to unique destinations.

Ray Viall is from Minnesota.  A veteran, he served in Vietnam as a Quality Control agent for the Army’s supply logistical command, assuring supplies were delivered to remote outposts via convoys. When Ray returned to Minnesota, he enjoyed playing baseball regularly with players who were either going to or coming from the pros. He never realized his own dream of being a pro, but was selected to some All-Star teams in the 70’s.

His career included working with OSHA as a Fatality And Safety Investigator, and later as a Safety, Security & Quality Control Manager for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.  Prior to his retirement he worked for Lifetime Fitness Construction traveling throughout the U.S as their Safety, Security and Quality Manager.  

Ray is eager to be of service to The VHA, especially on behalf of the area he represents and where he lives; in the Historic north side of The Villages.  In 2009, he and his wife Denise, finally purchased their own home after visiting his mother-in-law annually since 1988.  The Viall’s have 5 children and 10 grandchildren.

There are many autobiographies that are long and frankly boring. I intend to take the long part of that equation out of play. I was born and raised in northern Maine near the City of Caribou. As with all fortunate young people, I attended local schools. My parents were successful farmers and community leaders. Those attributes were passed down.

After attending New England College in Henniker, NH it became necessary for me to attend basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. I spent my required six years in the NH National Guard. New Hampshire seemed a wonderful place to live and raise a family. We lived in Contoocook Village, part of the Town of Hopkinton, for 47 years. While in Hopkinton I was fortunate to be appointed to many boards and elected to others. During those years, we also cleared land and created a certified organic blueberry farm. That endeavor was one of the most satisfying. Having your hands in clean living soil is good for the soul.

Victoria and I live in the Village of Pine Hills where we are fortunate to enjoy the many available benefits of living in The Villages. Here we continue to Live the Dream.

Joan grew up and raised her family on Long Island, New York.  Joan is the proud mother of two daughters and one son as well as the proud grandmother of five grandchildren.  Joan and her life partner John Otto enjoy their home in Hickory Grove Villas in the Village of Sunset Pointe. With both a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Reading with Emphasis in Learning Disabilities Joan taught elementary school for 31+ years.  During Joan’s years of teaching elementary school she became interested in hearing both sides of situations while working alongside teachers and administrators.  This led Joan to become a representative to her teachers’ association representing the teachers in her building.  The last five years of her career Joan was elected as Vice President representing approximately 200 elementary teachers in that school district. After retiring and moving to The Villages in 2005 Joan joined the VHA and became a Neighborhood Representative.  Joan continues to be interested in understanding both sides of issues while now listening and collaborating with residents and those who work to keep The Villages moving forward.  Besides being a part of the VHA Joan also enjoys working in the garden, playing golf, reading and knitting.

I grew up in the city of New Holstein (pop. 3400) in east central Wisconsin.  I was graduated in 1971 from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering (BSIE) and added a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh in 1981. Although my career ranged from industrial sales and marketing to retailing to accounting to product design, most of it was spent in the area of process improvement.  In effect, I used my innate laziness to benefit others by eliminating wasted effort.  I worked in the fields of manufacturing, health care, trade associations, and special needs support. I am married to Betty and have a stepson, a daughter, four grandchildren, two dogs, and four grand-dogs.  

Described as “energetic” and “motivated by challenges,” it is no surprise that Tweet Coleman’s career has spanned positions as a senior FAA representative at the American Embassy in London, FAA Program Manager, and Regional Representative; Boeing 747 and 727 pilot with Continental Airlines; Dale Carnegie communications coach; and surgical nurse with the Cleveland Clinic (to name a few). In addition, Tweet possesses a master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—where she also served as an adjunct faculty member in Hawaii and London, England and a doctorate degree in aerospace aviation education from Oklahoma State University (OSU). Tweet was selected to be a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at OSU.

Advancing the work of others is a cause close to home for Tweet, who in 1991, founded a scholarship for women in aviation. Hailed by Tweet as her greatest accomplishment, she established this scholarship with the American Association University Women, Honolulu branch, now in its 32nd year, as a way she could further support women from the state of Hawaii in pursuing and achieving their dream of becoming a pilot, a dream both she and one of her daughters have had the pleasure of realizing. Jenny Coleman Michiels is a pilot for FedEx Express.

Currently, Tweet is the Supervisor for District 6 seat 1 in The Villages, Florida. She serves as a mentor to high school students who are in the Aviation Club. Tweet is also an instructor at The Enrichment Academy; some of her topics include: “Manage your Fear of Flying,” “Mindfulness,” and “Brain Enrichment.”  Tweet and her husband, Patrick, live in the Village of Caroline with their dog, Karma, who is the director of the residence.

Dave and his wife Cyndi live in the Village of Hawkins. They moved here from Buffalo NY and also had a home in Bradenton Florida for seven years. They gave up both to be full time residents for the wonderful lifestyle of The Villages.

Dave had a varied career with 23 years of active/reserve duty as a U.S. Army Officer. After leaving active duty, Dave spent a significant time as a municipal manager in New York.  A second career developed as a performance improvement consultant after he obtained his PhD in training and performance improvement.

In addition to helping organizations achieve success, Dave served as a Senior Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award program. This is a presidential award administered by the Department of Commerce and is the highest level of recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive.

Dave is an online professor teaching a variety of organizational leadership and human resource management courses for masters level students. He is also active as the co-coordinator for the Village of Hawkins AED program.

Sandy Mott is a native of Oklahoma.   She majored in Journalism at Oklahoma State University where she met her future husband, Paul.  She has 2 children.  A son lost to cancer at age 40 and a daughter who lives here in Florida with her husband and 3 children.  She has been a Cub Scout den mother, a Brownie leader, a church Youth Group sponsor, and a Sunday School teacher. She has had varied work experience in the savings & loan industry, in direct sales, as a church secretary and an Avon lady. She moved to The Villages in December of 1989, just as development was beginning on the west side of highway 27/441.  She is a charter member of the VHA and is the Village Representative for the Village of Del Mar. She was elected VHA Vice President in February 1992, and became President when the then-President Yyonne Knudson stepped down in August of that year. She served as President until March 1994. She served 3 terms on the VHA Board between 1994 and 2003.  Along with her husband, Paul, she wrote for and edited the VHA Voice for about 10 years ending in Feb. 2003.  She wrote a weekly column, “Sandy’s Corner,” for the Daily Sun from Feb. 1998 to May of 2003, when it evolved into a weekly opinion column on the op-ed page.  The weekly column continued until July 2010 when Paul’s illness left no time for writing. Through all the years, her commitment and devotion to the VHA has been constant.  Now, once again, she will be editing the VHA Voice, with a lot of help from the VHA Board and membership.

A Village of Rio Ponderosa resident since 2003, I am a native of Staten Island, NY.  I have held a number of management positions in the financial industry including a financial newspaper, an investment banking firm, a financial information technology company and, just prior to retirement,  at a boutique accounting firm.  In addition to my full time positions, I served for ten years as editor of a 64-page square dance magazine and was an officer in various civic and community organizations.      I have served as Membership Chair and Director of the VHA since 2006.  In addition to my VHA duties, I am a supervisor of CDD #1, a Florida Master Gardener, Chair of the Bookworm Book Club, Vice President of The Villages Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, and Treasurer of the Marion County Rose Society. I have been married to my dear husband Charlie since 1973 and we are the proud parents of six children and four grandchildren.  

A native of Ohio. Bachelor’s Degree from Defiance College in Ohio and a Masters Degree in Public Address from Eastern Michigan University. Taught Speech, English and Journalism 30 years at Napoleon High School in Ohio. Coached football, girls basketball, and boys and girls tennis at Napoleon High School for a total of 75 seasons.  Has taught Speech at several colleges in Ohio and continues to teach at The College of Central Florida in Ocala.  Was a member of the Parks and Recreation Board in Napoleon, Ohio for 14 years. Member of The Defiance College Athletic Hall of Fame, The Lorain Sports Hall of Fame, The Ohio High School Speech League Hall of Fame, and the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame.  Author of three published books. A resident of The Villages since 2004,  full-time resident since 2011.  Wife Jane (44 years) and two grown sons. 

Jan Palmer moved to The Villages in 2017 from the Detroit, Michigan area suburb of Macomb. She hails from Western New York, but has lived in Massachusetts and Michigan as GM moved her husband around. She and Mark have five children, five grandchildren, three dogs, and she considers being a lifelong volunteer and stay-at-home mom as her primary career choice.  On the side she has worked at Kodak, Clarkson University, and Oswego Hospital as a secretary, was a feature writer for The Pepperell Times Free Press in Massachusetts, Young Mother of the Year for Massachusetts, a tour escort for Alcott Tours accompanying seniors and students on bus tours, was the office and editorial assistant for Travelhost Magazine of Buffalo/Niagara Falls region, and enjoyed many years as an activities director in Buffalo and Michigan for assisted living residents. She has written for and edited several newsletters, has been the drama director/writer and women’s ministries coordinator at her churches in two states, and a choir member/soloist and Bible study teacher/facilitator for 40 years plus.  Since arriving in The Villages she has found many opportunities to do what she enjoys;  serving with The VHA and exploring the nuts and bolts of The Villages, being involved with Special Friends activities, bowling, exercising regularly at Bone Builders, participating in Senior Olympics, joining the Writers 4 Kids group and the Writer’s League of the Villages, decorating, gardening, playing cards, entertaining guests, and getting to meet new friends and neighbors.  Her goal as assistant editor for The Voice is to produce an interesting and informative product for VHA members and promote the positive work they do on behalf of all Villages residents. 

Beth was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but grew up in a small town south of St. Louis.  She graduated from William Woods University with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and later graduated from Webster University with a master’s degree in Management.  Being a military wife, Beth has had many wonderful work experiences over the years in retail, health care, law and education.

Beth and her husband Dave moved to The Villages in April 2018 from Southern Illinois where her husband retired after 22 years in the USAF.  They always knew they would retire to Florida, but not sure where.  After being here for a little over 3 years, they cannot imagine living anywhere else.  Beth’s desire upon moving to The Villages was to become involved in clubs and organizations that were both fun and meaningful to her.  She and her husband are also very active volunteers with American Legion Post 347, Lady Lake.

In Beth’s spare time, she enjoys dancing, playing pickleball, treasure hunting for bargains and exploring new places in Florida.
Beth and Dave have a blended family of five children and six grandchildren whom are sprinkled all across the United States.

“Team Work:  Coming together is the beginning, Keeping together is progress and Working together is success” this is what being a part of the VHA is about for me.

There are many autobiographies that are long and frankly boring. I intend to take the long part of that equation out of play. I was born and raised in northern Maine near the City of Caribou. As with all fortunate young people, I attended local schools. My parents were successful farmers and community leaders. Those attributes were passed down.

After attending New England College in Henniker, NH it became necessary for me to attend basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. I spent my required six years in the NH National Guard. New Hampshire seemed a wonderful place to live and raise a family. We lived in Contoocook Village, part of the Town of Hopkinton, for 47 years. While in Hopkinton I was fortunate to be appointed to many boards and elected to others. During those years, we also cleared land and created a certified organic blueberry farm. That endeavor was one of the most satisfying. Having your hands in clean living soil is good for the soul.

Victoria and I live in the Village of Pine Hills where we are fortunate to enjoy the many available benefits of living in The Villages. Here we continue to Live the Dream.

Dave and his wife Cyndi live in the Village of Hawkins. They moved here from Buffalo NY and also had a home in Bradenton Florida for seven years. They gave up both to be full time residents for the wonderful lifestyle of The Villages.

Dave had a varied career with 23 years of active/reserve duty as a U.S. Army Officer. After leaving active duty, Dave spent a significant time as a municipal manager in New York.  A second career developed as a performance improvement consultant after he obtained his PhD in training and performance improvement.

In addition to helping organizations achieve success, Dave served as a Senior Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award program. This is a presidential award administered by the Department of Commerce and is the highest level of recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive.

Dave is an online professor teaching a variety of organizational leadership and human resource management courses for masters level students. He is also active as the co-coordinator for the Village of Hawkins AED program.

Bj hails from Pennsylvania, having been the youngest of six kids on a small dairy farm wherein all children labored in the barn and in the fields. Bj spent her working career in the areas secretarial, contract management, and office administration; she prides herself in organization and communication efficiency. She and her husband Ron raised a daughter and a son in NorthEast Philadelphia; they are blessed with three grandchildren. They retired to the Village of McClure in 2019. In addition to her involvement in The VHA, she enjoys reading books and magazines; she relishes the hours spent in the pool; and, she performs litter patrol while walking on the trails and parks throughout Central Florida.

Shawn and his wife Stephanie found their perfect retirement haven in The Villages after relocating from the Philadelphia area. They were drawn to the vibrant community, exceptional amenities, and commitment to a high quality of life.

A proud Army Veteran, Shawn spent 33 years in law enforcement, retiring as a Lieutenant from the Radnor Police Department.  He currently does consulting work focusing on policy and accreditation matters.

Shawn and Stephanie are involved with the VHA because they are passionate about preserving the unique spirit of The Villages and ensuring it thrives for future generations.

Dan Kapellen has been a full-time resident of The Villages since 2015 after part-time residency that started in 2008.  Dan moved here from Lisle, IL, a suburb of Chicago, after 40+ years of engineering and marketing in the automotive and commercial vehicle industry. Dan appreciates VHA’s contributions to The Villages community and appreciates his opportunity to be a participant.

A resident of the Village of Richmond since 2023, I am a native of Ohio.

I grew up on the west side of Cleveland and participated in 4-H and showed quarter horses. I was an America Field Service (AFS) foreign exchange student to Thailand in 1977. I went to The Ohio State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.

I married my late husband who was a full-time farmer in 1984. I was widowed in 1997 and have two children and five grandchildren. I worked for the T. Marzetti Company in Columbus, OH for 39 years starting out in Quality Assurance, but also worked in R & D and for the last 25 years in Procurement. I was Director of Packaging Procurement when I retired in 2022. I raised my children in Marysville, Ohio where I was a 4-H Leader for many years as well as volunteering with Big Brother Big Sister, United Way, our local food pantry, and hospital auxiliary, and served as PTO President.

I was fortunate to be offered an early retirement package from my former employer in 2022 and decided to move to The Villages, where I have been visiting my sister and her husband for many years. Since moving to The Villages, I have been enjoying meeting my neighbors and becoming involved in the community. I started the Richmond Readers Book Club, joined the Richmond Caring Neighbors group, The Village Bonsai Club, The Villages Genealogy Club and The VHA. I love to garden, read, play cards and travel. I have always enjoyed traveling, but now that I am retired, I plan to travel even more. I have been volunteering with The VHA Helping Hands as the Tuesday Coordinator since November 2023, which I love doing, it is such a great program to be involved with. I have been the Richmond VHA Neighborhood Representative, and recently accepted the position of VHA Assistant VP. I love living in The Villages and look forward to serving its residents.

Bio

There are many autobiographies that are long and frankly boring. I intend to take the long part of that equation out of play. I was born and raised in northern Maine near the City of Caribou. As with all fortunate young people, I attended local schools. My parents were successful farmers and community leaders. Those attributes were passed down.

After attending New England College in Henniker, NH it became necessary for me to attend basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. I spent my required six years in the NH National Guard. New Hampshire seemed a wonderful place to live and raise a family. We lived in Contoocook Village, part of the Town of Hopkinton, for 47 years. While in Hopkinton I was fortunate to be appointed to many boards and elected to others. During those years, we also cleared land and created a certified organic blueberry farm. That endeavor was one of the most satisfying. Having your hands in clean living soil is good for the soul.

Victoria and I live in the Village of Pine Hills where we are fortunate to enjoy the many available benefits of living in The Villages. Here we continue to Live the Dream.

A resident of the Village of Richmond since 2023, I am a native of Ohio.

I grew up on the west side of Cleveland and participated in 4-H and showed quarter horses. I was an America Field Service (AFS) foreign exchange student to Thailand in 1977. I went to The Ohio State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.

I married my late husband who was a full-time farmer in 1984. I was widowed in 1997 and have two children and five grandchildren. I worked for the T. Marzetti Company in Columbus, OH for 39 years starting out in Quality Assurance, but also worked in R & D and for the last 25 years in Procurement. I was Director of Packaging Procurement when I retired in 2022. I raised my children in Marysville, Ohio where I was a 4-H Leader for many years as well as volunteering with Big Brother Big Sister, United Way, our local food pantry, and hospital auxiliary, and served as PTO President.

I was fortunate to be offered an early retirement package from my former employer in 2022 and decided to move to The Villages, where I have been visiting my sister and her husband for many years. Since moving to The Villages, I have been enjoying meeting my neighbors and becoming involved in the community. I started the Richmond Readers Book Club, joined the Richmond Caring Neighbors group, The Village Bonsai Club, The Villages Genealogy Club and The VHA. I love to garden, read, play cards and travel. I have always enjoyed traveling, but now that I am retired, I plan to travel even more. I have been volunteering with The VHA Helping Hands as the Tuesday Coordinator since November 2023, which I love doing, it is such a great program to be involved with. I have been the Richmond VHA Neighborhood Representative, and recently accepted the position of VHA Assistant VP. I love living in The Villages and look forward to serving its residents.